Pneumatic picker-checking device.



No. 677,562. Patented .Iuly.2, I90I. F. B. CUMINS.

PNEUMATIC PICKER CHECKING DEVICE.

(Application filed Jan. 14, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK B. COMINS, or SHARON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PNEUMATIC PlCKER-CHECKING DEVICE.

SPECIFICAITON formingpart of Letters Patent No. 677,562, dated July 2,1901.

Application filed January 14, 1901. Serial No. 43,118. (No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK B. COMINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sharon, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvemen tsin PneumaticPicker-Checking Devices, of which the following is a specification,reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has reference to improvements in pneumatic checkingdevices for picker-staffs of looms.

One object of the invention is to check the movement of the picker-staffat both ends of its throw. v

Another object of the invention is to so construct a pneumatic checkingdevice for.

looms that the picker-staff may move freely through its predeterminedlimit of throw and be checked at the ends thereof.

Another object of the invention is to so construct a duplex-actingpneumatic check for pickerstatfs that the compressor may be connected inpositive operative relation to the picker-staff.

The invention consists in an air-chamber, an aircompressor therefor, andoperative connections between the compressor and the picker-staff.

The invention also consists in the duplex pneumatic check, in the meansfor compressing air therein, and in the connections between thecompressor and the picker-stafi.

The invention also consists in such other novel features of constructionand combination of parts as shall hereinafter be more fully described,and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 represents an elevation, partly in section, of theimprovedchecking device connected with parts of a loom. Fig. 2 represents a planview of the operating-lever and the connections between the same and thepicker-staff.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout.

In ordinary construction a picker-staff is mounted to swing in a slot oftheloom-lay under the impulses of driving mechanism to delivershuttle-driving blows and is returned to the initial point of action byretractingsprings and strap connections, the recovery and returnmovement of the staff being delayed until the momentum of the staffderived from the driving action has been overcome by the retractiveefiorts of springs. The return movement of the staff being extremelysharp and sudden under the strain of the springs results in the suddenstriking of the picker-staff against any stop or obstruction at theinitial point of action and 6c the rebounding of the staff, thus causingdelay and often interfering with the shuttle approaching the staff.

While the free movement of the staff under the action of the drivingmechanism and the return to the pointof initial action should not beobstructed, it is apparent that all Waste motion of the staff should beprevented and that itshould be seated at the point of initial actionwithout the usual sudden 7o jar and rebound.

In carrying my invention into practice I provide a bracket 5, which maybe secured to the loom-lay 6 beneath the shuttle-box and furnished withslotted fork-arms, as 7, 7 5 in which journaled boxes, as 8, areadjustably secured by set-screws, as 9 and 10. J ournaled in thebearings of the boxes, as 8, are the pivots ll of the actuating-arm 12,this arm being formed as a frame having the So curved side plates 13 and14, furnished with slots, as 15, and connected at the free ends by thecross-piece 16, the plate 14: having also the extension-pivot 17, thelength of which depends on the location of the axis of the pneumaticcheck.

Adjustable on the staff 18 is the box 19, provided with thesecuring-screw 20 and having the pivots 21 21,which travel in the curvedslots, as15, of the the actuator-arm 12 to swing the same on its pivotsas the staff moves back and forth.

On the back of the lay 6 or to some convenient support moving therewithis pivotally mounted the cylinder 22, having the perg 5 manently openvents 23 23 and provided with the ends 24 and 25, perforated to receivethe adjustable vent-screws 26 and 27. The end 25 is also axiallyperforated to receive the piston-rod 28, having the head 29, working inthe cylinder, and the slotted end 30, working on the pivot 17 of theactuator-arm plate 14..

When the staff 18 occupies the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 1,the pistonhead 29 will be at the upper end of the cylinder 22 andtheforward movement of the picker-statf under the action of the drivingmechanism will cause the downward swinging of the actuator-lever 12 bythe pins 21 traveling in the slots 15 and the drawing downward of thepiston-rod 28 and its head 29. As the head 29 moves toward the vents 23the air between said head and the vents will be forced out through suchvents. Thus no resistance, is offered to the movement of the head 29, asthe vents 23 are proportioned to allow the free passage of the air,while the traverse of the head is so proportioned to the throw of thestaif that the head passes the vents approximately at the time at whichthe driving mechanism ceases to act on the pickerstaii' and the staifreaches the limit of its shuttle-throwin g blow, when the air betweenthe head 29 and the end 25 will be compressed and will act as apneumatic cushion to resist the further movement in this direction ofthe head 29 and through the connections therewith will retard andcushion the progress of the stafi.

The spring retracting device for returning the staff to normal positionbeing now brought into action, the staff will fly back, the leverarm 12being thrown upward and moving the piston-head freelyinthe samedirection until the head passes the vents 23, when the air between thehead 2% will be compressed and will offer a gradual cushioningresistance to the final seating of the picker-staffldetermined by claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A picker-checkcomprising an arm, means for pivotally mounting the same in a loom,connections between the picker-staif and said arm, whereby the operationof the picker-stafl causes the swinging of the arm, and means positivelyconnected with said arm for exert-' ing resistance to its swingingmotion at times.

2. A picker-staff check comprising an arm adapted to be pivotallysupported in a loom, means adapted to be'mounted on the pickerstaff forcausing the swinging of the arm, a cylinder, and a compressor working inthe cylinder, and connections between the compressor and the arm.

3. A picker-stafi check comprising a cylinder adapted to be pivotallysupported on the loom-lay and having vents at its ends and at pointsintermediate its ends, a piston Working through an axial perforation inone of the cylinder ends and having a head, an arm adapted to bepivotally mounted and pivotally connected with the piston, said armhavinga curved slot or guide, and a box adapted to be adjustably securedto the picker-staff and having a pin working in said slot or guide.

4. The combination, with the bracket 5 depending from theloom-lay andfurnished with the adjustable bearings as S, the levers 12 having thepivots 11 journaled in said bearings the plates 13 and 14: having theslots 15 and the end 16 and the extension 17 on the plate 14, and thebox secured to the pickerstaff and having the pins 21 working in slots15, of the cylinder 22 pivotally mounted on the lay 6 and having thevents 23, and the piston 28 having the head 29 and the slotted end 30working on the extension 17, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK B. COMINS. Witnesses:

W. STANLEY CAMPBELL, HENRY J. MILLER.

